NPR Film Critic Kenneth Turan On Great Movies And The Stinkers

Kenneth Turan says people always remind him how lucky he is to have such a great job. And the National Public Radio and Los Angeles Times film critic is quick to agree.

Credit Edward O'Brien

Turan says his dad had a tough job, so he knows a good job from a bad one; but he adds he's constantly subjected to dreadful films. Unlike members of the general public who can pick and choose the movies they want to see, Turan's required to watch all - or at least most - of them. That's why he says the process of writing his latest book - "Not to be Missed: Fifty-Four Favorites from a Lifetime of Film" was such a joy to write. All he had to do was focus on movies that make him happy. Turan was recently in Montana on a family vacation and visited Montana Public Radio to speak with Edward O'Brien. Turan explains why he decided to write specifically about 54 great films: